Ian Lucas: The Government have today published a report on the Benefit-cost Ratio of New Regulations Introduced in the Financial Year 2008-09.
	The report shows that the benefits of new regulations enacted in the last financial year outweighed the costs by £9 billion, at a ratio of nearly 2 to 1 and confirms the Government's commitment to strengthening regulatory management.
	The figures, published as part of a new benefit—cost ratio, showed that overall quantifiable benefits exceeded costs by about 80 per cent., meaning that Government regulation is expected to deliver £1.85 in yearly benefits for every £1 of cost, or a ratio of 1.85 to 1. The publication of the ratio, covering the 2008-09 legislative programme, is a world-first and will be published annually in the future.
	The Pensions Act 2008, aimed at enabling and encouraging more people to build up a private pension income to supplement the money received from their basic state pension, is an exceptional piece of legislation, with the highest benefits and costs in 2008-09, which has a significant effect on the overall ratio. If removed from the ratio, the benefit to cost ratio would increase to 4 to 1.
	The benefit-cost ratio is drawn from the detailed assessments of the impact of new regulation produced by Government Departments and regulators. All Departments and regulators that introduce new regulation that has a significant cost or benefit must produce a full impact assessment which is published in an online library.
	The Government are fully committed to ensuring that all new regulation is justified and proportionate and that the benefits outweigh the costs. It builds on commitments to increase transparency and accountability, following on from the publication of the Government's regulatory programme.
	Regulation provides essential protections to employees, employers and citizens. Striking the right balance between costs and benefits is vital to make sure the regulatory framework is fit for the 21st century.
	A copy of the report is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental (Correction)

David Kidney: I would like to inform the House that a written answer I gave on 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 445W to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) was incorrect.
	It should not have included reference to the figures including services claims made under Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Vibration White Finger schemes.
	The number of coal health claims that were eligible for a Vibration White Finger services claim is shown in the table below.
	We are unable to provide the number of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease claims that were eligible for a services claim as these figures are included within the schedule 11 calculations under the terms of the Claims Handling Agreement, and it is not possible to isolate them.
	
		
			 Claimants' Representatives Location Number of claims Claim eligible for services Claim eligible for services that have been settled 
			 Ashton Morton Slack LLP AMS (UDM claims only) 500 260 254 
			 Ashton Morton Slack LLP Sheffield 3 2 2 
			 Atherton and Godfrey Solicitors Doncaster 1 0 0 
			 Atteys Retford 136 105 103 
			 Atteys Rotherham 46 41 41 
			 Avalon Solicitors (ceased trading) Warrington 5 1 1 
			 Bakewells Derby 1 0 0 
			 Banner Jones Chesterfield 3 3 3 
			 Barber Cartain Solicitors (ceased trading) Manchester 1 0 0 
			 Bell Dallman and Co. Doncaster 4 4 4 
			 Beresfords Solicitors Doncaster 158 73 73 
			 Beresfords Solicitors Doncaster (UDM only) 569 247 243 
			 BHP Law Belmont 8 7 7 
			 Branton Bridge Manchester 4 4 4 
			 BRM Solicitors Chesterfield (UDM claims only) 1 1 1 
			 Browell Smith and Co. Newcastle upon Tyne 34 22 21 
			 BurroughsDay Solicitors Bristol 3 2 2 
			 Colemans Solicitors Manchester 6 2 2 
			 Corries York York 13 6 6 
			 Davis Blank Furniss Hadfield 1 0 0 
			 Davis Blank Furniss Manchester 4 4 4 
			 Dean Thomas and Co. Solicitors Worksop 3 1 1 
			 Farleys Solicitors Burnley 4 2 2 
			 Flint Bishop and Barnett Solicitors Derby 1 0 0 
			 Foy and Co. — 1 1 1 
			 Foys Solicitors Worksop 43 36 35 
			 Gorman Hamilton Solicitors Newcastle upon Tyne 8 8 8 
			 Gorvin Smith Fort Solicitors Stockport 9 6 6 
			 Grainger Appleyard and Fleming Doncaster 1 1 1 
			 Graysons Solicitors Sheffield 610 462 452 
			 Hamers Solicitors Hull 1 1 1 
			 Hickmotts Solicitors Rotherham 23 16 16 
			 Holmes and Hills Solicitors Great Dunmow 1 0 0 
			 Hopkins Eden Court, Mansfield 97 84 84 
			 Hopkins Mansfield 1 1 1 
			 Hopkins — 4 1 1 
			 Hugh James Cardiff 3 3 3 
			 Ilett and Clark Solicitors Nottingham 4 3 3 
			 Ingrams Solicitors Hessle (VWF only) 3 2 2 
			 Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Sheffield 98 77 77 
			 Keeble Hawson Doncaster 39 32 31 
			 Keeble Hawson Moorhouse Sheffield 67 46 46 
			 Kenyon Son and Craddock 32 South Parade 1 1 1 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors Newcastle upon Tyne 163 113 110 
			 Kingslegal Cardiff 1 0 0 
			 Lloyd Green Solicitors Glasgow (UDM only) 1 0 0 
			 Lopian Wagner Solicitors Manchester 4 0 0 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse Newcastle upon Tyne 3 2 2 
			 Marrons Solicitors Newcastle upon Tyne 1 0 0 
			 McArdles Solicitors Hartlepool 3 0 0 
			 Meloy Whittle Robinson Preston 10 4 4 
			 Mincoffs Solicitors Newcastle upon Tyne 3 2 2 
			 Morrish and Co. Solicitors Leeds 4 3 3 
			 Mortons Solicitors Sunderland 12 1 1 
			 Moss Solicitors Loughborough 13 9 9 
			 Moss Solicitors Moss UDM Claims Only 501 263 252 
			 O. H. Parsons and Partners Solicitors London 199 161 159 
			 Oxley and Coward Solicitors Rotherham 37 32 32 
			 Pannone and Partners Solicitors Manchester 4 3 3 
			 Parker Rhodes Solicitors Rotherham 1 1 1 
			 Pinto Potts Solicitors Aldershot 1 0 0 
			 Raleys Solicitors Barnsley 239 168 167 
			 Richard J. Knaggs and Co. Redcar 2 2 2 
			 Robinson and Murphy Solicitors Newcastle 1 1 1 
			 Robinson King Solicitors (ceased trading) Stockport 19 19 19 
			 Russell Jones and Walker Solicitors Sheffield 2 2 2 
			 Saffmans Solicitors Leeds 9 6 5 
			 Sedgwick Phelan and Partners Middleton, Manchester 1 1 1 
			 Shaw and Co. Solicitors Doncaster 16 11 11 
			 Shaw and Co. Solicitors Newcastle upon Tyne 4 2 2 
			 Simpson Millar Solicitors Leeds 3 3 3 
			 Stanton Croft Estate Agents and Solicitors Newcastle upon Tyne 2 0 0 
			 Stuart Bell and Associates Worksop 143 112 112 
			 The Quigley Partnership (ceased trading) Bolton (do not use) 1 1 0 
			 The Smith Partnership Derby 1 0 0 
			 Thompsons Solicitors Manchester 2 2 1 
			 Thompsons Solicitors Newcastle upon Tyne 26 22 22 
			 Thompsons Solicitors Nottingham 1 0 0 
			 Thornleys Huddersfield 2 1 1 
			 TLW Solicitors North Shields 29 10 10 
			 Towells Solicitors Wakefield 49 31 29 
			 Tracey Barlow Furniss and Co. Retford 1 1 1 
			 Tracey Barlow Furniss and Co. Worksop 9 3 3 
			 Twigg Farnell Solicitors (ceased trading) Rotherham 4 4 4 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers Mansfield 1,009 698 693 
			 Wake Smith and Tofields Solicitors Sheffield 6 3 3 
			 Walker and Co. Solicitors. Rotherham 1 1 0 
			 Watson and Brown Solicitors South Shields 1 0 0 
			 Watson Burton LLP Newcastle upon Tyne 131 114 113 
			 Total  5,198 3,380 3,326